Air spring for heavy machinery



July 29, 1952 ,-R. w. BROWN 2,605,066

v AIR4 SPRING FOR HEAVY MACHINERY Filed Deo. 21, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I I 15a 59 o 4| 5 6 H I lo I 4,.. 42* 20a 56 55a 15 (9 /4 l 30 i 3155 52 l 20 T: E

28.,L 54 T R 28 29 INVEN o 4o 3 1:- '7 120Y wbrzowN I6 l Y @y Q ATTORN EYS July 29, 1952 R. w. BROWN 2,605,066

AIR SPRING FOR HEAVY MACHINERY Filed Dec. 21, 194e l 2 swans-SHEET 2 5 lNVENTOR 62 y 6 12oY w.E 12o\x/N an* 'g'y ATTORNEYS Patented July 29, 1952 AIR SPRING FOR HEAVY MACHINERY Roy W. Brown, Akron, Ohio, assigner to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a. corporation of Ghio Application December 21, 1946, Serial No. 717,739

claims. (c1. .24a-zo) This invention relates to machineryv supports, especially to resilient supports forheavy, impact generating machines, such as forging machines.

Heretofore there have been various types of bases, or mounts, provided for machinery and these various supporting devices have usually attempted to position a machine so as to cushion the jars or impacts set up thereby. These efforts have not lbeen completely satisfactory,` especially for heavy machines that generate high pressure impacts, and the life of many buildings has been shortened appreciably due to the vibration or jars transmitted to the building from machinery therein. Also, the shaking of a building naturally disturbs the people in the building and reduces their efciency, while other machines in the building also are affected by such movement. Y Y

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved type of machinery Support, characterized by its relatively high dynamic load capacity and by its smooth cushioning action on vertically directed impacts.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of improved resilient mounting means adapted for the support of heavy machinery, such, for example, as trip hammers and the like which have a very high momentary impact which is mainly absorbed Within the mount by a hydraulic pressure buildup. Suche buildup is a-function of the rate of movement of one or more elements within the mount in response to the magnitude of the momentarily applied dynamic energy. The static load of the supported machine or object is mainly supported pneumatically, there being a correlationjbetween the pneumatic and hydraulic supporting means to provide absorption of static load by the first and absorption of a substantial portion of the dynamic load by the second mentioned means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, resilient support for heavy machinery, permitting limited universal movement of the machine supported.

A further object of the invention is to obtain the above objects by combining the use of a gas and a liquid as a machine supporting column.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable pressure member for supporting any of a variety of machines.

Other objects and'advantage's will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings, the specification and the claims appended thereto.

Attention now is directed to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine support embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2-2 Vof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary vertical section 0f a modified valve means of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of a modification of the invention..

Referring in detail to the structure-shown lin the accompanying drawings, a large heavy forging machine l is shown secured to av rectangular base plate 2, of any suitable material such, as reenforced concrete, with corner plates 2a secured thereto. The machine I may be any type that generates impacts or vibrations requiring resilient support. The base plate 2 is resiliently supported in a recessed portion of a foundation 3 by a plurality of `mounting units, indicated generally by the numeral 4, positioned beneath the corner plates 2a. The corner plates 2a have box members 5 secured to their lower surfaces in any conventional manner,I preferably formed of channel members, the boxes 5 being positioned at the upper ends of the mounting units Ayto form a part thereof.

ToV prevent side movement of the mounted machine, rubber blocks 6 are suitably securedV to the outer surfaces of boxes 5 adjacent the walls of foundation 3, in contact with platesflfembedded in the walls of foundation 3. The rubber blocks tl may have a friction material covering 8 of fabric Aimpregnated with a thixatropic lubricating composition to impart thereto the unusual property of a greater kinetic coeiiicient of friction than static coefficient of friction VvOne example ofthe components of such lubricant composition is castor oil, a wax compatible `,with the oil, and an aluminum soap uniformly vdispersed in the composition. Graphite also may be present in the composition, if desired. vThe blocks 6 may be of a dimension commensurate with the frictional properties of the vmaterial employed. f y Y lEach load supporting and `mounting unit II includes a iiexible, semi-tubular air spring bellows 9 of reenforced rubber coated fabric, for example, the air spring bellows shown and de.- scribed in my U. S.; Pat. No. 2,221,470'. The upper end of bellows 9 is clamped inlfluid sealing engagement to the lower surface of base plate 2a by means of a ring I2, screws I0 extending through bores II in plates 2a. providing therequired clamping pressure. The lower edge or bead of bello-Ws 9 is clamped lby a ring I3 to effect a fluid seal with the upper flange I4' of a hollow cylindrical member I5 secured to foundspring bellows 9 and cylinderv I5-in` a manner to carry the machine While absorbing shocks and vibrations therefrom moreV efciently than is To this'V possible with known prior art' devices. end, a volume of a substantially non-compressible liquid, such as oil, is positionedin4` the cylinder and a tubular piston rod I9 positions an associated concave faced piston in the' liquid. 'Ihe piston rod I9 is mounted for limited universalvmovement on the-lowersidecf the corner plate 2'af`by astud 2li. The piston rod. I9: V has a; concave endpiece 22' securedg-asIby welding, to its upper end to seat with a semi-sphericalf'membe11235 'Ihe stud 21 extendsthroughthe member 23? to' secure vit 'tor-l the: corner plate akand lock nut-24` and spacer 24aareiused-to-secure-the end piece 22 androd |9tothe stud ZI?. .A The end piece 22- has `a centralaperture 25 thereinvthrough which the` studv extends and inl which.- the'- stud y`rr'iarginalportions of piston 2D?, as later described'.

The pin' 26`has a tapered shank section 291leading into a reversely tapered section 31 to` provide a` narrow neck. portionv therebetween. vTapered section 3"1 leads into a cylindrical head Pin 26.1 is-so adjusted that under static load oflthe supported machine l, the neck intermediatetapered sectionsl- 29 and.V 3l isvin registry witlibore 211i However, on relative movement ci'. the piston rod i9 and pin 26 in either direction; the effective orice decreases, thereby ren- 'dering` thesupportstiffer with increase of load'.

A--pluralityofi apertures-32 are provided in the lbwerf end of the tubular piston rod for ow ofV iiuidf therethrough.

A check-valvev action is provided in' the following manner to allow the piston to permit relatively free rebound motion of the support.

Piston 2U has a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses 33 formed in its periphery, a plurality of apertures 34 being provided inY plate 21T-lat the' inner edge of the flange 28a. A- rubber s'ealingl ring 35 iis. positioned. for loose engagementfbetween ange 28a; and the corresponding portion: ofipiston 2B.. On'- downward movement ofthe-piston assembly, ring 35 and flange 28a Vseal'thepiston-against leakage of fluid past the edge of the pistonl 'and all.v fluid ow must be through. the orifice intermediate bore 21' and the metering. pin, On. rebound movement, the sealing-ring 35 and flange 28u,v separate suiciently to enablefluid flow past'. the edge of the piston initially to; lessen dampening, fluid` also passing through bore 21 on such movement.

As above Cil stated, the dynamic load of the supported device, which may represent tremendous momentary energy build-up, is absorbed in large part hydraulically.

Since the static load of the supported device is mainly supported pneumatically, an appreciable air pressure is initiallysetupin. units 4 and to this end an airpressure. supply line 3E connects to the cylinder 151 The line 35 has a gage 31 and a control valve 38 connected therein so that any desired amount of air may be admitted to the cylinder. The pressures in the units 4 may extend from a low of about 300 poundslper'square inch to a high of about 1200 poundspersquare` inch. A baiile plate 39 may be secured to the'v outer surface of the tube I9 adjacent itsupper end and an annular rubber bumper 4U may be carried by the lower surface oi the plate 28 to cushion the piston 20 in case it bottoms on the plate I1. A sealing, or guard strip imay be positioned over, or in. thel space vbetweenfthe base plate 2.' and thefoundati'on' to prevent'entIy-of foreign material into such-space` Anyv` conventional' valve may be used? inf the practice of: the inventionand Figl 3` shows a modifled type of valvewherein'. a` tubular piston` rod 19a carriesl a concavefacedi piston 20ct.V Aconcave valve plateil having an orice 42'therein is secured to the face of the piston 291ir to limit ow ofi liquid pastthe` pistonon` movement'- of the piston in the cylinder 15m The oriiice; 42 is of a predetermined size dependent upon; the anticipated load'conditions therefor and? it con, trols flow: of liquid past the piston 28a cnw-relative movement ofthe pistonrod 19a inwardly of the cylinder 15a,V Onrebound, sealing ring 35a pulls or movesoutof sealing relation between the cylinder I5a and piston 20d to lessen', the resistance to' movement of tlieload' support "pistone-20a.

Fig; 4- shows a large forging machine llcarried by'a foundation block'Si-I' of any suitable mateL rial, such as concrete, and which is` receivedin a well` 52formed in a foundationl 5.31 The block 51' mayA have' ai cover plate 54. suitably secured thereto and the block is positioned centrall'yof the well 52 by any suitable. devices such as wedges and 56. Thefwedges 55 aresuitably secured to the coverplate. 54 while the Wedges 56, whichare oppositely inclined withrelation to the wedges 55, are driven in between-the wedges 55: and rubber blocks 1i) secured to the sidewall of. the well 52. Thev wedges permit a small vertical movement of the block 5 lv while functioning. to. provide lateralv support for. it at any .of its-positions. The wedges may extendzthelengths of. the sides of the block 5l. Preferably, the wedges .5 6 'aredriveninto position after the rest ofi the. apparatus is assembled and suitablel devicesv (not shown) may be associated with such wedges toenable them to be lifted from their assembled` positions, when desired.

While Fig. l shows a plurality oi-v the resilient supportingV elements. of the inventions used in combination with a load, it is not necessary to use the load. supports in that manner andFig. 4 shows one largeair. spring bellows 51. supporting the block 5I` and machine 50. A tubular. metal member 58 is secured to the bloclri'rlby. bolts 59 While a, locking and sealing plate Ell-is used tov secure the upper endof the air spring removably to member 58. The lower end ofthe air spring is removably 'clamped to an. overhanging fla-nge 6| of a ring 62 by' a. bottomplatexa'to form a load support chamber with the bellows. Bolts -64 secure ring B2 to the foundation 53.

Load on the member 58 is supported both by a liquid 65 and by compressed gas conned in the bellows 51. A dished piston plate 66 is secured tothe member 58 by bolts 61 that secure the sealing vplate 60 to the member 58. To snub movements'of the piston plate 66 and associated means when a kinetic force is applied to the machine50, a metering pin 68 is secured tothe sealing plate 63 and it extends up through an oriice 69 in the piston plate 66. The upper end of the pin 68 is loosely received in a guide cup 69a that is secured to the plate 60 and extends downwardly therefrom. A reduced diameter neck section is provided on the metering pin 68 and it normally is positioned in the orice 69 to permit a maximum area of the orice to be unobstructed at static load conditions. Then on compression of the bellows 51, liquid is forced through the orifice 69 and this moves the plate 66 downwardly with relation to the neck portion 10 so as to reduce the active area of the orifice 69. This combines with the inherent snubbing action of the metering pin 68 to retard relative movement of the piston plate 66 (and supported load) and the foundation 53.

A conduit 1|, having a valve 12 therein, connects to the sealing plate 60 to supply compressed air or gas to the air spring bellows 51 to set up an initial pressure in the bellows 51 to aid in static load support. A small apper valve 13 is secured to the upper surface of the piston plate 66 adjacent its upper edge to bleed entrapped air out of the pocket below the upper edge of plate 66.

In this type of apparatus, the initial pressure is maintained at a value such that impacts transmitted thereto by machine 50 cause only slight displacement or further compression of the bellows 51, such as a displacement of onehalf to one inch.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides an uncomplicated, sturdy, adjustable load support, advantageously combining both pneumatic and hydraulic cushioning to absorb the static load, operational vibrations, and impacts of high magnitude set up by a supported machine.

In accordance with the patent statutes, embodiments of the invention have been completely shown and described herein but it will be realized that the scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims and that the invention is not limited to the examples disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. Support apparatus for a forging machine comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed about a base upon which said machine is mounted, each of said resilient members comprising a bellows and a hydraulic snubbing device associated therewith, said bellows being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said bellows normally sustaining the static load of said machinery and base and being capable of downward deflection under the dynamic loads imposed thereon, said hydraulic device comprising a xed cylinder supporting said bellows and a piston connected to said bellows and adapted to move downwardly within said cylinder when said bellows deflects under the dynamic loads and valve means permitting a restricted iiow of liquid through said piston upon downward movement of the same within the cylinder.

2. Apparatus according to claim l and means 6 associated with said piston permitting a free return of said piston when said bellows returns to normal position after said dynamic loads have been dissipated.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which Asaid valve means is adapted to meter liquid at a 4rate varying with the linear movement of said piston.

4. A resilient support for a forgingl machine comprising a base plate having corner plates secured thereto, said base plate being adapted Yto support said machine, a plurality of resilient mounting units disposed under and engaging said corner plates to support said base plate, each said ,unit including a tubular member in the form of a bellows, means comprising a ring and screws attaching the top end of said bellows to the `undersurface of said corner plates in fluid-tight relation therewith, said bellows being connected to a source of air under pressure and normally sustaining said base plate through the medium of said corner plates under static load and being capable of downward movement under static load such as that created by a hammer blow of a forging machine, hollow cylinders attached in fluid-tight relation to the lower ends of said bellows, the lower end of said cylinders resting upon and being attached to a permanent foundation, hollow piston rods attached to the underside of said corner plates in a manner providing limited universal movement therebetween, said rods extending downwardly from the corner plates into the cylinders, liquid disposed in the lower ends of the cylinders and closure plates sealing the lower ends thereof preventing the escape of said liquid, pistons carried by the lower ends of the piston rods, said pistons being immersed in said liquid, center openings through said pistons, metering pins having narrow necks intermediate their ends attached to and extending upwardly from said closure plates projecting through said openings in said pistons into the hollow piston rods, whereby said fluid is metered by said piston in controlled flow upon vertical movement of said corner plates.

' k5. A resilient support for a Aforging machine Acomprising a base plate adapted to carry said machine, said base plate having corner plates attached thereto, resilient means engaging with said corner plates to support same, said resilient means including exible substantially tubular members in the form of bellows, means engaging one end of said bellows to the undersurface of said corner plate in fluid-tight relation thereto, a hollow cylinder attached in fluid-tight relation to the lower ends of said bellows, said bellows being connected with a source of air under pressure and normally sustaining said corner plate under static load and being capable of downward movement under dynamic load imposed thereon, the lower ends of said cylinders being xedly attached to a foundation, piston rods, said rods being secured to said corner plates with the rods being in and extending downwardly of said cylinders, means sealing the lower ends of said cylinders which has a liquid therein, said means comprising closure plates in the lower ends l ofthe cylinders in fluid-tight attachment thereincluding center openings through said pistons, Y

metering pins attached to said closure plates and projecting upwardly therefrom through said 7 open-ings; in. sadpistons,` whereby said fluidV is metered past'sadf pistons at ay controlled rate on Vertical movement of said corner plates: with relation to said cylinders.

ROY W. BROWN..HV

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the fl'e. of thie patent: l@

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^ Name Date; Burleigh. July 2(1,1 1897 Furlow June 10, '1913 Heldrch Many 20,k 1919 Pospeshil July 2,1929 Thomson VO :t:.31,1944 Strachovsky 1 July 31711945 Mueller I' Oct. 12,. l19.48 

